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I've been wanting to go shopping around for a sewing machine, with the aim of someday (in my spare time ... hah!) learning how to quilt.
Any sewing buffs, or quilter's out there who can give me guidance in what to look for in a sewing machine that can also handle this purpose? Any recommendations?
One of my pastimes is crocheting. (just finished a beautiful blanket for Dave) I've also done some needlepoint. Always thought I'd like to try my hand at making a quilt. I have so many cool ideas along the lines of crazy quilting.
Probably going to be awhile before I actually get around to it, but would like to do alittle homework on the machine before I get out there and look for one.
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Nettie, I still sew on my portable Singer that I got as a graduation present in 1980, so I'm a bit out of the loop concerning newer models. What you might try is picking up one at a garage sale, cheap, to give it a try. I made quilts for my first two babies, the first intricate and the second not so complicated. I knit Justis a coverlet...hee hee. My foot pedal has been replaced once and my bobbin housing fixed twice. Quilting is a very satisfying process. I always find it ironic that my grandmother's quilts were pieced together from dibs and dabs of used materials, but I went out and cut perfectly good, brand-new fabrics into teeny little pieces to make mine. I'm sure Jane Diaz can be of more help than I am! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I did quite a bit of research and ended up with a Bernina. I have quilted since I was little bitty, made my own clothes, even used to make Bill's shirts (when I had time and was home with the kids). I LOVE to sew. It just seemed the Bernina had enough bells and whistles and not TOO many. I have had it about 3 years and it is really reliable and sturdy. I have heard that Singer USED to be the preferred machine, but it's quality has slipped over the last 10 years or so. I have a 50 year old Singer that was my mother's. She upholstered for a living. I saw a repairman come and tune up her machine and to show her the sturdiness, he sewed though a wooden ruler! THAT machine will sew thru anything you can throw at it, but I won't do any fancy stuff (zig-zag, etc) It's good to have though for the heavy stuff, like blue jeans, etc. When I was looking, I went to some reputable dealers and asked to see a demo. Take questions and even maybe examples of some things you would like them to do. I looked at Brother (didn't seem to be sturdy enough) Husqvarna Viking (complicated & pricy!) and Singer and I thought Bernina was the best value, but still a good machine. I would LOVED to have had a embroidery one, but they run $2000+! You could also do a Consumer Reports search at your Library and look up what they recommend. Hope that helps. If you have any questions, call.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Jill has a good suggestion about a used machine. Check out your local newspapers and second hand shops too. Even if you go to your sewing machine dealers, they often have used or what the call "refurbished" machines that are very nice. I spent $700+ on my new Bernina and I am very happy with it, but that is a lot of $ if you are just experimenting. You could probably pick up a 3 or 4 year old machine that was still a great machine. p.s. Jill I still have my Sears Kenmore I got for a high school graduation present in 1969 too, and it still works....I know, what's with 3 machines?
[ February 02, 2006, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Jane, I knew you'd have some good answers! I can't wait to see the colors Nettie puts into her quilt. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Jane- "what's with three machines"- don't worry about that, I have seven+ machines.
Years ago I bought a 1920s Singer 45K72 to do horserug & saddlery work, though I still handsew that stuff a lot. It turns out it didn't work, and I spent 2 days all but tearing my hair out till I worked out it was a timing issue with a loose hidden grubscrew. The next was a 45K67 with a jumpfoot. That filled in where the other left off. Then a Juki something which was a high speed dressmaker's machine that I slowed down & beefed up, and set up for sewing ropes into banners, and doing a bit of upholstery for horse drawn vehicles (which I did a bit of then). Then a Singer 29K13 boot patcher- that's a nice machine! It didn't work at the time, but does now. It gets used from time to time. Then a Pederson hand operated Sole Stitcher, and a 1800s Wertheim that will punch through 3/4" of leather, and then I inherited two smaller Singer industrials from a friend who bought them to use but neither worked...and another inheritance that soemone bought thinking being "industrial" it would suit saddlery- but it was built as a high speed lingerie machine! I fixed & resold that. I've lost count now, there are a few heads spare in the shed, but the big old singers are a favourite.
Most I put onto treadles, so they could be used without electricity, as we had only generatior power for 10 years. I'd still like a 132K6 or one of the modern Toyota or Brother equivalents (DB7...), but sort of can't justify the cost!
Joan's used her Bernina since the late 1960s too, and just bought a niceish Toyota last week which wasn't dear at $290. She did get a quilting foot for the Bernina a few years ago, which worked OK when we worked out how to use it properly.
Good luck, Nettie!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Nettie, My mom was a quilter for many years and she always used a Bernina. Now that she's gone I have her Bernina and use it all the time, mostly to fix holes in clothes or sew patches on. If I can figure it out anyone can. My most cherished possessions are the quilts my mother made for me and my kids. This way we always have something to remember her by.
Louie
-------------------- Lou Pascuzzi www.economysigns.com Fine Hand Lettering since 1973 Danbury, Ct 203-748-4580 "IOAFS" Posts: 341 | From: Danbury, Ct | Registered: Feb 2000
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Quilting is the only thing I never tried my hand at. I learned to knit in the first grade and started my first business selling head bands to the girls for $.50 each while riding to school on the bus. I was an entrepreneur at an early age. I learned to crochet, made an afgan for my daughter when she was born, I made hook rugs, and also did needlepoint while still a teenager. I guess it was the creative gene in me. I still have it to this day.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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I must have that same creative gene when it comes to using my hands (except for hand lettering). I was probably 7 or 8 when my mom taught me to sew my own Barbie clothes. She also taught me to knit and I made my first ski sweater when I was 10. I can't tell you how many tablecloths that I have crocheted.
I'm with most here. Go with Bernina, or an old Singer or even an old Kenmore. Someone gave me a cheap Kenmore as a wedding present that I used for years and than bought one of those cheap ones Wlamarts or somewhere. Sure wish I had my old, cheap Kenmore.
[ February 02, 2006, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Nettie, I bet your project will be a lot of fun, as it's probably going to be beautiful!
and...I think Jane has excellent suggestions! Wow, Jane you have the patience to make men's shirts! For me, I love to sew and this Christmas I made jazzy doll clothes for American Dolls, and some fleece shag pillows for the girls to match their shag rugs for the dollies. It's been a long time since I've had the patience to sew small tiny things, but it was easier and more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I had to redo a couple seams, as I didn't have the dolls here to fit, but, that's okay. My girls know I'm human too. Last month I copped a cute little sewing machine for my granddaughters as it sews slower and handles only lighter materials. The girls like the shaggy shiny fleece and yet it won't sew that, but we're really excited for me to have a weekend to go there to teach as I want them to learn the basics as they love crafts anyway. They have such tiny hands and this is perfect.
I actually taught my son to sew when he was two. I sat him on my lap and he did a great job running straight lines and using reverse.
I've always used Singer, but I've also noticed the quality has been surpassed by Bernina.
I need to retire my two machines here as they always have tension problems but that is common with age. I'm going to trade them in for a machine that sews heavy duty bluejean quilts and hopefully can also serge silky light fabrics and cottons as I make skirts and blouses for my nieces. I'll probably go for a second hand one so that I can have one for each of the types of sewing. This weekend I'm going over to see if we can break open the box and get started. It's been so busy here. Hey thanks for the inspiration!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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My mom was awesome seamstress . . . She always made all my clothes when I was real little.
My grandmother gave me the love for quilting. Some of my best childhood memories are of stayin' at grandmother's house in winter. The only heat was the fire place in the front room - but I snuggled-up in one of her big ol' beds, matresses so old, there were ruts where people slept, and I had to crawl in there and choose, once and for all, my sleepin' position because mama would throw so many quilts on me that I absolutely could not move. It could be 18 degrees in Grandmother's house, but I never recall being cold, (except for runnin' to the outhouse...)
Before managing the bookstore, my mom was a production manager for two of the large sewing factories here, then she took a tailoring job at Sears, back in those days they made suits to custom fit and such.
She was always big on Pfaff machines, and said they were the best machines made, but she never owned one. She loved to tell me about how angry my dad made her once;
Seems, when they were overseas, she had chosen a Pfaff machine which had lots of bells and whistles, and my dad was to go pick it up for her, and arrange to have it shipped to the AFB home where they would be stationed.
Well, somehow, he decided to do what he thought was a really sweet & great favor -so he got her a Singer in a cabinet, which he thought she'd love.
It has that leg-bar for operating which she never liked. It's only claim to fame was a button-holer attachment that she always hated for it's trouble. I don't think she ever forgave him, lol.
I happily inherited the machine, but she and I both always hated the '50's' style stark and ugly cabinet.
Right after she passed away, I found a lovely honey oak-stained cabinet at a yard sale, with turned legs, and some bevels and such. Much prettier. Altho', quilting is mostly all I ever do with her old machine, other than hemming or takin'-in seams. I'm terrible with patterns for clothes.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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I used to sew everything, even Jim's blue jeans, suits, work clothes...... I like making signs better though. I haven't sewed much in the past few years.....but I'll be making a wedding dress in the next few months.... ....Want to help Jane - you sound like you would be good.
My girl will look beautiful in our take of this.
I had a Singer machine and a Singer serger...both served me very well Janette. I also inherited my Dad's industrial Pfaff...it's given me more trouble, but I suspect it took a lot of abuse before it fell into my hands in terms of sewing through multi layers of upholstery fabric. I was looking into the possibility of a new one for our venture, but I think my 30 yr old faithful is going to have to do the trick.
[ February 03, 2006, 01:08 AM: Message edited by: Kelly Thorson ]
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I really was interested to see who was going to respond on this post. I had a couple of you pegged already.
I actually have an old Kenmore that I bought myself when I was just 15 or 16 (Hey, just a few years ago... hah!) Crazy, but I've been assuming that it just wouldn't be functional anymore, ... tension problems, corrosion or whatever. I need to get it out of it's case and take a good look to see if it's still kickin'. It's in the depths of my closet somewhere.
Sheila sent me a photo of a quilt she made that is absolutely beautiful. I will post it on this thread abit later today when I have more time.
Would love to see photos of some other quilts if any of you would want to show them.
I went to Key West a couple years back, and saw some nice quilts out there. I left with a head full of cool ideas. On the drive back, I had my sketch book with me and came up with a cool idea for a "key west" quilt. Things like cats, and key lime pie and the Mile 1 sign, and Bouganvilla, Palm leaves, etc. I had a whole list of stuff that would be cool on it, and then I remembered .... I don't know how to quilt!
I have ideas for other "themed" quilts too.
Anyway, like I said, it's all there in my head, I just need to find the time and ambition to do something with it.
Thanks for the feedback everyone ... it's also inspiring and motiviating me.
Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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I forgot to add that I might be buying a used industrial sewing machine in the near future to hem my printed banners in house if that counts as sewing
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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What a fun thread! Kelly, I would LOVE to help you! Wish I was closer! That looks so beautiful. PLEASE take photos and share them with us when you are working on it. It doesn't really look like a hard pattern except for all the bead & lace work. Are you going to do that all by hand? You should have seen the dress my mother made for my sister! WOW! Mine was pretty simple. Having three boys, I have always thought maybe ONE of their girlfriend might ask me to do a wedding dress. I did do three matching flower girl dresses for the neighbor girls when they were small. That was fun! As for the older machines...you might consider taking it in and having it repaired or tuned up. Often times those older machines are made with metal parts and are really sturdy compared to the plastic they use now. Even if YOU do a little dusting and oiling, that can make a big difference. If you still have the manual, pull it out and look up the maintenence section and go to it. If that doesn't do it, take it to a repair person and see what they say. You will e up and sewing in no time!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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This is the last quilt that I did. It was for our new grandson, Alexander. The pillows are what I did for the baby shower as gifts. The winners of the two games each got one and "Mommy Ewa" got two.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Jane- those are beautiful. A labor of Love! I have been sewing since I was 7, although I don't have the time now. I have a Bernina I bought 20 years ago. Never a problem. Even sews through the paint stirring stick . Is good at machine quilting and sewing through denim and upholstery fabric. Old Kenmores and old Singers are good. Recently I sold a tiny singer that was used for many years going to the quilting classes. An old Montgomery wards machine is a good choice too. It wouldn't hurt for you to take it to a sewing machine repair place for a good cleanup and tension adjusting- sometimes that is all it needs. Using sharp needles makes a big difference.
I will be a grandma soon, I plan to make the child a quilt.
Diane
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1695 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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I used to love to sew. I have made clothes for myself and my daughter in the past,even make matching dresses once. I bought a Kenmore sewing machine right after graduation in '68. It still works and I think my daughter has it now. It always had tension problems and getting a perfect stitch is important to us perfectionists. I would purchase a newer machine if I started sewing again. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My wife is currently making a Double Wedding Ring quilt for my son's upcoming wedding. I asked her about what sewing machine for quilts. She likes to hand quilt them. She's never quilted with a machine. She recently made one for a pregnant dentist she worked with. She printed pics of the family on fabric and included them in the quilt, it was amazing.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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My Grandma Olive's parents were the originators of the McIntosh apple. Their apples won many first places at southern Indiana county fairs. They allowed a gentleman to graft his tree with theirs and called the result the McIntosh apple. Her Mom made many quilts including the wedding ring quilt which my Mom gave to me for my wedding. That plus another beautiful one were stolen when I lived in Florida, but I still have one more, and my sister and brother have a few more also. I know when I was to be married and my Mother gave it to me for our wedding, she said, "Don't let hubby put his dirty boots on it ever!" (and I didn't cause I kept it in the hope chest. The day I took it out, my neighbor came over and decided to take it for herself; it's a long story, but I just cherish the remaining quilts and genealogy. I've been conversing with Nicola McIntosh about the heritage. My uncle wrote that our McIntosh person used to work in a blacksmith shop in Scotland, so I forwarded it to Nicola, and she replied that her sign shop is an old blacksmith shop! How cool. My grandma's brother Frank was the President of Ohio Northern University in Ada for 20 years. My grandma said she was more of a "country girl" that liked catfish and hushpuppies". That goes along with the lemonade she always made from the lemons in life! not to mention the lemon meringue pie she taught me how to make! Maybe I'll find some more of the quilts since I've recently found some of my family not too far from here. What fun! ps. I loved the Key West living, Nettie, spending time down there since the late sixties. My dad kind of thought he was Ernest Hemmingway by the way he lived in Grassey Key for 30 years.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Wow--Jane, those are beautiful...I have a Bernina too--I inherited it from my great-aunt--and it is the best machine I have ever ever used--now if I could only find the time Posts: 74 | From: Lincoln, Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005
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Jane, those are magnificent! As another thumbs up for Bernina- Joan made her wedding dress, plus those for the bridesmaids and flower girl, on her aged Bernina!
Quilting she wanted to get into, and made a start, but family, chores, housebuilding & farmlife got in the way! Guess we'll have to wait for grandchildren!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Nettie- I forgot the obvious: get yourself a versacamm with pouncing capabilities, and just replace the blade with a sewing needle- what could be simpler- print & quilt!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Megan always has a quilt in some stage of the process. Her machines are all Vikings, and she prefers the older ones before they were computerized. Hand quilting is still her preferance, and she is usually able to get the whole family stitching. We enjoy it. She has a room with shelves filled with fabric scraps collected for this purpose and laying out the colors and textures seems to bring great pleasure to her. A good cutting table is also important and those quilting machines and hoops seem senseless. Enjoy your new addiction.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Janette Balogh: I've been wanting to go shopping around for a sewing machine, with the aim of someday (in my spare time ... hah!) learning how to quilt.
Any sewing buffs, or quilter's out there who can give me guidance in what to look for in a sewing machine that can also handle this purpose? Any recommendations?
One of my pastimes is crocheting. (just finished a beautiful blanket for Dave) I've also done some needlepoint. Always thought I'd like to try my hand at making a quilt. I have so many cool ideas along the lines of crazy quilting.
Probably going to be awhile before I actually get around to it, but would like to do alittle homework on the machine before I get out there and look for one.
Nettie
Hey Nettie! Great thread..hehehe! I still say the old old Singers are the best by far, IMO. You can usually find those good old machines at thrift shops and yard sales. They usually don't look too great, but they are mostly heavy-duty machines that would handle quilting. I recently bought an old treadle Singer (100 years old) machine that I'm gonna try some quilting on. (Don was thrilled that I moved that machine from South Dakota, and even more thrilled to move it up a full flight of narrow stairs for me. Hahahaha!)
Speaking of quilting, I made a quilting frame like the old timey ones awhile back...Sheila and Judy have probably seen this type that hang the quilt-in-progress from the ceiling. I left it behind in So. Dak., but plan to make another out of hard wood when I eventually get a house. So you can probably guess that I usually do hand quilting instead of machine quilting.
Anyway...if you already have an old machine, I'll bet you can take that in to any sewing shop and get it lubed up and adjusted and it'll be as good as new (and probably sew better than any new one on the market today).
take good care, Susan
-------------------- Susan Daniel Huntsville, AL Posts: 53 | From: Huntsville, AL | Registered: Oct 2005
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Susan, Thanks for the encouragement for my singers. I've always taken them in for tuneups and tension adjustments. But, one is over 45 years old and seems to have sewn the heavy bluejean quilts. Maybe I don't need a new one after all; we'll see. Jane, those are gorgeous quilting treasures. Wow, they are really brightly colored. Do you take them to a special dry cleaner? Mine have cost about $25 to clean, but, I'm skeptical which ones to take them too, now that they seemed to change chemicals, etc. with newer technology. The matching pillows are a great idea! I've never seen that concept.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Here's a piece of a quilt we did for a friend's birthday when she turned fifty. She's an avid gardener, and we got several friends to each make a square to be assembled. I did the cordouroy earthworm with the baseball cap.
[ February 05, 2006, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm just a dabbler type sewer so I'd never proclaim to know how to quilt. Nettie, I think quilting is the perfect extension on where you can take your designs!
Cody sewed his first pillowcase at about age 3 while sitting on my lap. It's a flannel cowprint, really cute.
My mom was also a Bernina fan and she patched alot of thick denim living on the farm and all.
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Deb, I made it washable so it was useable. Baby's are notorious for spitting up! You just toss it in the washer. The front is all cotton and the back is flannel (so it is warm and cozy). It was machine pieced and hand quilted. Your quilt is cool, Rick. Nice colors! Those group quilts are great!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I grew up with Singer machines as a very big part of our family life. Mum was a dressmaker specialising in bridal and evening cloths.
As a little girl I would sit under the table and listen to all the women talking and watch as the most amazing creations appeared from her time, talent and inspiration.
I was never allowed to touch mum's machines as they were vital to her income. She couldn't risk me hurting either her portable (the one that had zig-zag) or the industrial straight sewer. Both Singer.
Mum made me a deal... If I made a complete garment by hand properly, she would allow me to have a machine of my own.
Being the arrogant child that I was (still?) I decided to make a long sleeved shirt, with covered buttons and french seems, anyone remember them?
I worked really hard on all those tiny stitches, which she measure by the way, 25 stitches to the inch was acceptable for clothing that was to be worn close to the skin.
When it was finished she told me that I had earnt the right to have a machine of my own!!! I got my first Singer, a treadle, for my 10th birthday and never looked back.
I made all my own cloths... bikini's, tops, skirts & imitation Levi jeans. My machine was sold as part of mum n dad's divorce when I was 15.
By the time I was 17, and not long married, I inherited a hand-turn Singer from my mother-in-law which she had bought with her from Holland in 1952. I have no idea how old that machine really was.
I remember being fightened that all my sewing, I made jeans, jackets and dresses, then later baby cloths and curtains, would wear off the gold leaf tulips on the head and base plate of the machine. So I coated it with estapol clear. My 30 year old daughter now has that Singer.
In 83 I got an Singer industrial flat bed from a jeans factory in NZ which was changing over to continuous shaft drive machine heads. I paid $35 kiwi for it, and made a lot of leather cloths that suited the cold climate using that machine. I bought it back to Oz with us in 85.
Devo decided that since we were screen printing we should make our own line of T-shirts and sloppy's and so I got an industrial Juki overlocker for the stretch fabric work.
He saw a second hand portable Singer that used cams to do fancy stitches. Once he found that it would stitch out little chickens all in a row he bought it for me to do the kids and general house sewing with.
Those machines were all lost in our house fire in 94 and so the nice man from the insurance company sent me shopping to buy new ones.
I found, as has been mentioned, that the Singer machine's were no longer what they had been. After investigation decided to replace my portable & overlocker with Janomie brand.
Those Janomie's have never missed a beat and have done a huge amount of work over the years. Although until we moved to Qld in 02, I didn't get the chance to sew as much as I used to.
I never replaced the industrial after the fire because to do so would have taken $4,500.00 out of our allowable claims, that's how much a new one was wroth in 94. We decided that a few other items were more important.
In 02 my grandmother gave me her Juki industrial machine. I was very interested in reading above that Ian might know how to thread it? Nan's memory isn't what it used to be... I will be sending you an e-mail mate
I have never gotten the quilting bug... except to make simple ones for the babies when they were new. I know that my sister-in-law does some amazing quilts on a Janomie exactly the same as the one I have.
I appreciate the time and effort that folk put into that craft and pour over the quilts on dispaly at the local craft stop.
While I was doing all the sewing for our daughters wedding in 04 Devo decided that a computerized embroidery machine would give me more to learn and a new Janomie joined the ranks of it's brothers in my sewing room.
This thing is a real joy to play with. And has greated a whole new business for me. I started making embroidered patched for Devo's biker friends which has grown into something that keeps me fairly busy.
When our twins graduated high school last year I used the embroidery machine to create a dragon on the bodice of Beth's dress and then beaded over it for a unique effect.
The software I use now can take a photo and turn it into stitch pattern which the machine understands.
So for my mum's 70th b'day last October I took an old black n white shot of my brother and I at the beach when we were babies. I made a sepia tone embroidery on organza, put it in a frame and sent it to her.
I figured that she deserved a momento of her inspiration all those years ago.
Sewing is comfort stuff for me... It's a chance to switch off the world and create from nothing something that gives you real tactile joy.
I know from reading all the posts here that I'm not the only one that couldn't imagine a home without a sewing machine in it!
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota! Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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What model is your grandmother's Juki? Ours is a DDL-545. It has an oil sump (holds about a litre of sewing machine oil) & an oil pump just like a car engine, and hoses going all over the place underneath.
Threading them is very standard- I can send you a photocopy of a page I got from somewhere if you like.
The only problems I ever had (except it being too fast) were from mouse urine (during a plague about 7 years ago) rusting the pressure plates so getting the right tension was not possible, but some wetordry sandpaper fixed that, and the tiny loop takeup spring behind the thread pressure/tension plates was wrong- so it chopped the threads if you ever went in reverse. I eventually got to the bottom of that and fixed it.
How's Maryborough and the airbhrushing & the braille?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Gail! How wonderful to see you posting! What a treat to hear from you! It's as though this post is a patchwork of experiences, as each of us puts a piece of our life into it, usually to gather the experiences of others to our own.
It's so good to hear your take ( how unique), as I love the different terms and likeness; as your Mom came over from Holland, my dad's Grandmother came over from Holland also. She used to sew those fine "smaller than small" Barbie and Ken doll clothes for 5 of us girls. I used to sit under the table also, just at their coffee cliques, and listen, but, my mom wasn't strict at all about sewing. My mom was a nurse and she was strict about our eating habits though.
And, I did drive my 9th grade sewing teacher nuts as I always wanted to sew the most difficult stuff: plaids, and empire waist princess dresses with the 25 buttons on the back, suitcoats. I had the outlet for my creativeness to escape. I found out mini skirts took a lot less material so I made about 100 of them along with cowhide vests with lots of fringe, bellbottoms, etc.
The neatest thing I ever got to sew was a sail for a boat with the help of a professional sailmaker. My dream is to go back to Ohio and enjoy lessons from a Mormon mother of a friend of mine who makes teepees. The family is loaded with archealogists and anthropologists, civil war buffs and of course geneologists since they are Mormons. So, as you sewing takes me away to places that we just can't describe, a great experience to just take one away from the everyday stress and holdroms of life.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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I have very fond memories of quilting with my grandma and my mom as a teenager. We would sit downstairs with a cup of tea, and the hours would fly by. Grandma always hand-stitched the quilting, but I believe she assembled the blocks on the machine. There was always a quilt in a frame downstairs to work on.
She made every grandchild a quilt when they gradutated and again when they married. Mine is still on my bed, and thank goodness my kids each got one before grandma passed away. She stored the quilts in a cedar chest, and every now and then my kids get a wiff of cedar and say "that smells like grandma". It gets me everytime.
My mom quilts now, and she sews all the blocks on the machine. Then she puts the quilt in a hoop, and hand quilts the pattern on her lap while watching tv or riding in the car.
There is such beautiful fabric out there these days, I can't wait to see what you come up with!
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Finally, I've gotten around to posting Sheila's quilt. Maybe she'll come in and say a few words about it. But I'll mention that the label on the reverse side says it's to her daughter Emily, from "mama". And the quilt encompasses velvet and lace. Beautiful eh? Oh by the way, Sheila stitched this by hand!
It was'nt made with a machine, which is what this thread is really about . .. but it is a crazy quilt . . . kind'a like the creator of it . . .
That was made for my oldest daughter while she was in high school, for whenever she got her first home. There are some 'fan' patterns located on it, but the rest are randomly cut peices sewn onto a floral brushed cotton with a sheet between, so it's quite heavy. Some of the seams are covered in various peices of lace, some from Erica's clothes. The pink satin was a little dress she once had. The rest of the seams are covered with embroidery is mostly feather stitches.
I'm collecting satins and velvets now to make one for Emily.
I sometimes buy 1/4 or 1/2 yard of velvet, or satin, but I mostly buy clothes at the thrift store made of these materials when I find them in colours I like.
I'm always amazed at how much sign painters have in common with each other in our other hobbies and stuff we 'get into'. To me sign painting is just another form of quilting or making music. A never ending attempt to make something interesting from raw basics.
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ooops Sheila, I even read "Erica" on the label, and still typed Emily .... duh!
I'm in awe of you folks that do this quilting stuff!
I want to add that one of the folk's who further fueled my desire to pursue this ambition of mine is Rick Sack's wife Megan. I visited them once, and saw an awesome crazy quilt that she made hanging from a wall in their beautiful home. I then got to see her quilting room. WOW!
Anyone else who wants to post pictures here of quilts ... please do!
Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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what's with 3 machines?
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....Want to help Jane - you sound like you would be good. 
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I did do three matching flower girl dresses for the neighbor girls when they were small. That was fun! 
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Hahahaha!)
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